Overdue pics from ALMS Grand Prix of Houston | FerrariChat

Overdue pics from ALMS Grand Prix of Houston

Discussion in 'F1' started by PaulC, May 16, 2006.

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  1. PaulC

    PaulC Formula 3

    Feb 11, 2003
    1,407
    San Antonio, TX
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #1 PaulC, May 16, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,379
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    C'mon with it, my brother! LOL!

    I was complaining in the Texas Thread there wasn't many pics coming!

    Like they used to tell me at the office, "If ya can't get here early, get here when ya can!" ;)

    Good job, panning that night shot...........that was AWESOME evening, wasn't it????

    Post until you hit the 5mb limit then send Rob $20......
     
  3. TopElement

    TopElement Formula 3

    May 14, 2005
    1,540
    OC & Vegas
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    A Montoya
    Nice pics. Would you happen to have more?
    I'm disappointed that the 430's can't even use the stock rear diffusers. Seems like they run less downforce than street models!
     
  4. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,379
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    The added wing......plus the front lip work......I'm sure it's greater than stock.

    Valeria said I could buy one.......I said "No we can't there aren't any!"

    More! More!
     
  5. PaulC

    PaulC Formula 3

    Feb 11, 2003
    1,407
    San Antonio, TX
    Full Name:
    Paul
    I will subscribe and post more. It would not let me upload more than those 2.
    The course was very well lit so the night shots don't look so great. PM me if you want the hi-res.
     
  6. TopElement

    TopElement Formula 3

    May 14, 2005
    1,540
    OC & Vegas
    Full Name:
    A Montoya
    I'm sure the add-ons helped, but it doesn't seem they're able to use the underbody to its full potential as Ferrari designed. Dang rules. I prefer the racing front bumper to the street version though.

    More pics! You should be able to post them without subscribing, there's just a lower limit.
     
  7. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
    BANNED Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 28, 2003
    85,600
    Texas!
    Keep in mind that even subscribed members can only upload 640k pics. I'm a computer idiot so I don't understand why they have to be limited in size, but there it is.

    Dale
     
  8. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
    5,559
    TX
    Full Name:
    Sameer
    #9 speedy_sam, May 18, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I had a blast this weekend!!!

    The three day event had the following classes of races:
    - American Lemans (ALMS) with four classes of cars: 2 prototype classes (LMP1 and LMP2) and two GT classes (GT1 and GT2)
    - Champ Cars
    - Formula Atlantic
    - Formula Renault

    This was the first time the event was held adjacent to the Reliant football stadium where a bumpy 1.7 mile temporary circuit was carved out. The cars in all classes seemed to be catching a lot of air on the numerous bumps.

    It was a treat to see all the ALMS drivers - there were quite a few LeMans winners among them in various classes. ALMS is very cool in that the cars are very visible in the paddock, the drivers are very accessible - easy to get autographs and a quick chat with the drivers. I was talking to Allan McNish for a few minutes about the huge bumps and how his car was sparking a lot on a couple turns. He joked that he was just trying to lighten the Audi. BTW - they brought the old stager R8 and not the R10 out here. The Audi was perhaps the quietest car in the paddock compared to the LOUD Panoz, Lola and Corvette C6R.

    On the Champcar side, it was fantastic to see the guys in action - there are a lot of talented drivers here like Sebastien Bourdais, Paul Tracy, da Matta (who seemed to have a rotten weekend here). The cars were seeing a lot of air on the bumps and on the TV we could see that the drivers were constantly correcting for the bumps. I was talking to Justin Wilson's spotter who stood next to me while I was taking pictures. He was saying that the car was bouncing so much that the drivers were more or less braking on instinct - cant see the typical braking points as on other circuits due to the vibrations.

    It was clear to see that Bourdais is phenomenally talented. He posted the fastest time in virtually every session and won the race in the end despite staring 5th on the grid due to a technical issue - the car was deemed too light (by 3 lbs) and his fastest time was taken away. Paul Tracy was really on it - on Friday when most of the other drivers were ***** footing it to find the line and learn the bumps he was zipping around at top speed, correcting the car's slides with finesse.

    One of the guys at the Ferrari club lent me a VIP pass which gave access to the pits and I could see the cars up close. Some of my pics there are not too clear because I forgot how to force the flash on always - it was around 8pm with darkness setting in. I am so angry with myself - I should have figured that out before. Stupid me.

    The Formula Atlantics and Renault were good for viewer amusement - the young drivers seemed to be disciples of Takuma Sato - lots of wheel banging and spins. Don't ask me about these cars - I don't know or don't care.

    BTW if you are wondering why some of the pics are grainy - its because they were taken at 9-10pm at night.

    Here are the pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/speedy_sam

    There are 7 sub-albums inside. Enjoy.

    Some preview shots:
    ALMS
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  9. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
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    Sameer
  10. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    Apr 28, 2003
    85,600
    Texas!
    Thanks so much. Great shots.

    Dale
     
  11. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
    5,559
    TX
    Full Name:
    Sameer
    Your are most welcome Dr...
     
  12. TrojanHorse

    TrojanHorse Formula Junior

    Mar 1, 2005
    973
    South Texas
    Full Name:
    Paul
    Great Shots...it was a fantastic show, I agree. Looking forward to next year already. :)
     

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